The Lotha Middle Range Students’ Union (LMRSU) has said that total bandh would be imposed in the Lotha Middle Range jurisdiction from 18th March 2024 in view of the unsatisfactory progress of the Sanis ‘0’ point to Lakhuti Road upgradation project under Wokha district.

The Union informed that per the work agreement, the contractor, M/S North-East Enterprise, had agreed to complete the construction by March 2022, with an extension of six months. The said project comes under PMGSY 2 and covers a length of 18 kms at the cost of Rs 1542.88 lakh, LMRSU informed.

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

President Wonchibemo B Ovung and General Secretary Chonbenthung B Mozhui have mentioned in a statement that the Union had submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner and Secretary, Works & Housing, Government of Nagaland, on 25 January 2024 where the Union along with other stakeholders demanded for the work to be completed on or before 15th February 2024 or face legal action.

Thereafter, the Commissioner and Secretary convened a joint meeting on 1 February 2024 which was attended by the Additional Chief Engineer, Roads & Bridges, GoN and the contractor where it was decided that the prime contractor would complete the work by 10 March 2024 and in accordance with the contract specifications and contract agreement.

On 8th march 2024, the LMRSU officials inspected the 18 km stretch and noticed that the contractor had begun to stock the transported required materials and machineries at Yonchochu village. The Union was then informed by the Supervisor at the site that the “work might begin by the following week with an attempt to complete the task before 31st March, 2024”, LMRSU stated.

Disappointed by slow development, the Union submitted an ultimatum stating that any democratic form of agitation would begin if there is a lack of satisfactory progress made before 15th March 2024.

LMRSU officials held a joint-coordination meeting with Sanis, Yonchucho, Sunglup and Lakhuti Village Council Union (SYSL) at Sanis Village on 14 March and subsequently conducted a presidential cum consultative meeting on 15 March 2024. At the meetings, the decision made to impose a “total indefinite bandh within the Lotha Middle Range jurisdiction from 18th march 2024 and further intensify accordingly if the demands of the Union and public are not materialized.”

Further, LMRSU firmly stands on the following demands:

1) The prime contractor should address the public of the deprived villages in person and declare a written assurance stating to complete the work within the stipulated given period.

2) Representatives from the Government of Nagaland to address and assure the public in written to complete the project within the time given frame.

Lotha Middle Range Students’ Union also expressed displeasure to the concerned Department for releasing the bills in advance before completion of the work.

LMRSU had issued earlier on 24 May 2022 issued an ultimatum to M/S North-East Enterprise, the contractor, to expediate the work or face legal actions. The contractor replied the next day citing that due to “some internal hiccup particularly with a proposal for change in the Technology, the implementation of the Soil Stabilization could not take-off in time thus causing delay till date.” It also said that the matter had been resolved and work would commence by first week of June 2022 and assured that the upgradation project of Sanis ‘0’ point to Lakhuti Road would be completed in time, September 2022.